Our first record of George Benn is the 1850 census where he is listed as age 14 in the household of his parents, George and Sarah Benn, in Clarion County, Penn.
The next record is the 1856 Iowa State census of Lee County, Charleston Twp, where he is listed in the household of John and Nancy Eaton. George Benn is listed as "brother" and is shown as age 21, a farmer, and that he had lived in Iowa for two years.
I believe this George Benn to be the same person who was enrolled on the 11th of August 1862 at Croton, Iowa, and who was mustered into service as a Corporal on the 11th day of August at Mt. Pleasant in Co. C, 25th Regiment of Iowa Volunteers, to "serve three years, or during the war."
George Benn was discharged May 18, 1863, at St. Louis, Missouri, for "disability." The "Certificate of Disability for Discharge" states he was born in Clarion Co in the state of Pennsylvania, was twenty-three years of age, six feet ____ inches high with dark complexion, black eyes, black hair, and was a farmer at time of his enlistment. He was discharged because of chronic bronchitis.
(View image of Discharge Certificate)
None of the papers received from the National Archives gives a middle name or initial for this George Benn. Information received from one researcher indicates that George Benn was born February 1833. The source of that information is not known to this writer.
Included in the papers received from the
National Archives are three hand written sheets. Much of the
writing is illegible. The following is my attempt at
transcribing those pages.
"State of Iowa - Marion County
On the 27 (or 24) th day of October 1873 personally appeared
before me Allen Warwick (?), Clerk of the District Court, a duly
authorized officer of a court of Record in and for the County
and state aforesaid Powell J. Mikesell, who being duly sworn
according to law made the following declaration, in order to
obtain the pension provided by act of Congress for children
under sixteen years of age; that he is the only legal guardian
of Orie A. Benn and Elda George Benn, legitimate children of
George Benn, who enlisted under the name of George Benn at
Croton, Lee County, Iowa on the 11th day of September A.D. 1862
in company C, 25th Regiment of Iowa Infantry Volunteers in the
war of the Rebellion, that he left a widow surviving him, that
said widow since the death of her said husband ______ on the
24th day of March 1864 at Red Rock, Marion County, Iowa,
intermarried with one Powell J. Mikesell, that the said George
Benn died of Bronchitis at Belfast, Lee Co Iowa on the 30th day
of May A.D. 1863, that the above named are the only surviving
children of said George Benn and Isabell R. Benn, his lawful
wife, that the said Orie A. Benn was born February 14, A.D.
1857, that the said Elda George Benn was born January 2 __ A.D.
1861, that the father was married under the name of George Benn
to Isabell J.R. Chestnut on the 30 day of April A.D. 1856 by
Jonathan Bedell a J.P. at Athens, Clark Co., Missouri, their
being no legal barrier to such marriage; that the said children
have not aided or abetted the rebellion and that no prior
application has been filed in their behalf or by the father or
mother, that he hereby appoints _. B. Ayres of Knoxville, Marion
County Iowa, his attorney to prosecute the above claim; that his
residence is at Red Rock, Marion County, Iowa, and that his post
office address is Red Rock, Marion County, Iowa. /signed by
mark/ Powell J. Mikesell" The third page consists entirely
of the witnesses sweearing that Powell Mikesell was known to
them and that he did make his mark.
Another of the papers is a form with title of
"Declaration For Widow's Pension." It bears a stamped
date of Apr 30, 1892, Pensions Office. The following is a
transcription of that form.
"State of Iowa, County of Marion, SS
On this 26th day of April, A.D, one thousand eight hundred and
ninety-two, personally appeared before me, a clerk of the
District court, the same being a Court of Record within and for
the County and State aforesaid, Isabell R. Mikesell, aged 54
years, a resident of the county of Marion, State of Iowa, who,
being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the
widow of George Benn who enlisted under the name of George Benn
at Croton, Iowa, on the 11th day of August, A.D., 1862, Company
C of the 25th Regiment of Iowa Infantry Volunteers, and served
in the late war of the Rebellion, who was Honorably Discharged
and died at Belfast in said state of Iowa May 31, 1863.
That she was married under the name of Isabell R. Chestnut to
said George Benn on the 30th day of April, 1856, by one Jonathon
Bedell (?) at Athens (?) in the state of Missouri there being no
legal barrier to such marriage, that since the death of her said
husband George Benn, she has remarried to one Powell J.
Mikesell, there being no legal barrire for such marriage, she
was married to said Powell J. Mikesell under the name of Isabel
R. Benn in Marion County & state of Iowa on the 24th day of
March 1864, said Powell J. Mikesell died on the 19th (?) day of
November - was married by Jacob Burney (?), a JP. That she has
not remarried since the death of the said Powel J. Mikesell.
That she is without other means of support than her daily labor.
That names and dates of birth of all the children now living
under sixteen years of age of the soldier are as follows: "She
further states that she has no children who were under fourteen
or sixteen years of age at the death of said Powel J. Mikesell.
That she has heretofore applied for pension and the number of
her former application is "she believes claim no. 212-512
and was she believes allowed by Certificate No. 214,046. This
was allowed as widow of said George Benn." That she makes
this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension
roll of the United States under the provisions of the Act of
June 27, 1890. . . . . Isabel R. Mikesell signed by mark.
Isabel Chestnut Benn Mikesell married a third time, that husband being Asa Bunch Mikesell. Isabel was born 27 July 1838 in Ind. and died 1 Feb 1915 in Marion County, Iowa and is buried at Red Rock Cemetery, Marion Co.
Other information provided by various researchers indicates that Isabel's parents were James A. and Elizabeth Chestnut. James Chestnut is said to have been born 1 Feb 1803 in Ireland and died in 1851. His wife's maiden name is unknown. Their other children were: Mary Ann Chestnut (1827 PA - 1903 IA) married John Rickabaugh; Jane A. Chestnut marr Wm. H. Cannon; Theordore Chestnut, Andrew Chestnut who married 1868 in Marion County, Iowa to Mary E. Setzer; Elizabeth Chestnut who married in 1866 in Marion Co. Iowa, Josiah A. Wilbur.
Orrie Augusta Benn
- born February 14, A.D. 1857 according to the pension papers;
died Nov 1951, Tulsa County, Okla.
1880 census from LDS Compact disk: Red Rock, Marion, County,
Iowa, Page 462b
John Harris - Male - White - age 28 - born Ind. - Farm Laborer
- both parents born Ind.
Orra Harris - Wife - White - age 23 - born Iowa - Kpg house -
father b. OH, mother b. MO
Wesley Harris - Son - White - age 8 - born Iowa
Maud Harris - Dau - White - age 3 - born Iowa
In the 1936 Tulsa City Directory John W.
Harris and wife, Ora, were living at Lake Station.
Obituary - name and date of paper not known but almost
certainly a Tulsa, Oklahoma, paper:
A three-month illness was fatal to a
97-year-old great-great-grandmother, Mrs. Orria Augusta Harris,
widow of John F. Harris, who died in 1937.
A native of Marion County, Iowa, Mrs. Harris had lived in Tulsa
35 years. Since the death of her husband she had made her home
with a daughter, Mrs. Lottie Tipton, 6107 W. Ninth St. She died
at the home of another daughter, Mrs. Nora McIntosh, 11 S. 62nd
West Ave., where she had been visiting for the past week.
Mrs. Harris attended the Assembly of God Church.
Also surviving are a son, Dave H. Harris, Wichita, Kans., a
third daughter, Mrs. Maude Brooks, 135 S. 35 West Ave., a
sister, Mrs. Nellie Hinkle, of Indiana, 20 grandchildren, seven
greatgrandchildren, and three great-greatgrandchildren."
According to the pension papers she was born January 2 __ A.D. 1861. Information given me by other researchers indicates that she married her first cousin, James A. Rickabaugh, the son of her mother's sister, on March 21, 1880, in Marion County, Iowa. James Rickabaugh is said to have been born January 27, 1853.
I have spent some time searching the old Tulsa City Directories and have obtained quite a lot of very confusing information. I'll keep working on that as time permits. Anyone reading this who can add factual information and put us in contact with living descendants, please contact me: Linnie Howell, linnie@gbronline.com